S.A. contact in sports wanted?

Press, 14 August 1984, Page 12

S.A. contact in sports wanted?

NZPA-AAP Canberra The National Party Federal Council has endorsed a more tolerant policy on South Africa’s apartheid regime. The council meeting in Canberra has passed resolutions which, if implemented by a future coalition Government, would allow Australian sportsmen and sportswomen to compete against South Africans.

One of the resolutions approved endorses sport as the best means of fostering greater international friendship and understanding and recommends that Australian competitors should therefore take part irrespective of South Africa’s presence. In an emotional speech

supporting the motion, the Opposition spokesman on primary industry, Mr Tom McVeigh, said Australia had relations with “murderers” but treated South Africa like a leper. He said he had seen black South Africans representing their country in recent sports events. “What is wrong with having contacts with South Africa? I thought sport bridged all human relationships and created friendships,” he said. “Rather than discouraging contacts in sports events with South Africa we should be encouraging them. We should be giving them credit for what they have achieved.”